Thursday, November 27, 2008

Christmas is a time of joy and excitement, thus your centerpieces should reflect that. Use traditional colors: White, Red, Green, Gold, Silver, Blue. You can go traditional, or unusual. Your choice. Below are some of my favorite ideas:

Giant glass or see-through Bowls of Christmas ornaments can be a great idea for a centerpieces that can double as a Christmas Wedding Favor (they could be personalized or hand-painted with you wedding date). The big round shiny ones . red, green, blue, silver, gold. Fill each bowl with however many people are at that table. Every guest reaches inside the bowl and takes one home as their Favor.

Gift boxes, either small one in a bowl (as above) or big gifts which could be opened at one point in the night. They could hold any Christmas Wedding favor you decide to give...orcould just be filled with candy for your guests to enjoy. This can be varied and personalized for your wishes.

Poinsettias can be set in the center of the table and are popular around Christmas time. You could also put rings of holly or roping around the table to add that Christmas flair.Oh and Don't forget to add the Mistletoe over the Bride and Groom seats. This will help with the kissing. Just remember both Mistletoe and Poinsettias are Poisonous, so beware if adding to Cake or around children.

Clear or white Christmas lights wrapped in white tulle

For a religious touch, you may use Christmas carols for your wedding music and sing as many as you like. Some of the favorite Christmas carols will make your guests sing along too (or at least hum: ) ).

If your wedding colors are Christmas colors, match you Christmas lights to them.

Simple wreaths with white bows edged with gold or silver make great wall decorations and even table centerpieces -- just place a candle in the middle.

Swags of white silk poinsettias with gold-tipped centers can be used to decorate the walls and tables for the Christmas wedding for a festive but elegant look.

Tables covered with net and having centerpieces of a glass bowl filled with Christmas ornaments look quite pretty. You can later give out these ornaments as wedding party favors.

Flower styles, availabilities, and costs vary throughout the year. This also varies from region to region. Florists can get almost any type of flowers for you, but it makes sense to have the bulk of your floral arrangements made of flowers that are readily available during the season of your wedding. You have many options for winter wedding flowers. All white, all red, red and white, full color, all are available, with plenty of options for festive fillers. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Narcissus- white or yellow with flowers with an orange center. Like the mythical Narcissus who was in love with his own reflection, these flowers are beautifulMagnolia Blossoms- The pink tinted flowers offer simple elegance, and offer hints of all the life of spring time to comeCarnations- Classic flowers, always availableViolets- Small and striking flowersGardenia- White flowers that are beautiful for a winter wedding, elegant, and have a lovely fragranceAmaryllis- You can get them in different colors; the petals are multi-shaded and look stunningOrchids- Many brides love orchids, and even see them as a status symbol. These flowers really are beautiful, but they are also pricey.Roses- Such a classic, and so many varieties to choose from. A bouquet of nothing but roses can look very elegant all on its on, or roses mixed with other flowers can draw from each other'sbeauty. Red and white roses are both classic and fitting for a winter wedding. Fire and Ice roses are white with red tips; though some have a more orange than red tint.Snowball Mums- These look like what their name impliesFreesia- Many different color options, a nice simple flowerTulips- Another classic that offers your bouquet or centerpiece a nice push of color, with many colors to choose from.Lilies- Big, bright flowers than can add an elegant "oomph" to your bouquet. Many varieties to choose from. Calla Lilies are especially elegant, and a classic choice for a wedding flower.Crocus- Several varieties, tending to be purple with an orange center.Gerbera Daisies- These flowers are bright, fun and innocent, and also pack in a lot of color.Dahlias- A beautiful burst of a flower, in a variety of colorsLisianthus- These flowers have a gentle, truly feminine look.

To fill in your bouquet or centerpiece:

Foliage that is sprayed gold is very festive for Christmas weddings especiallyBaby's BreathHollyIvyEucalyptusDusty Miller- this is silver, and perfect for a winter wedding as it adds an icy elegance to the arrangement

The best way to figure out what flowers will work for your wedding is to do a little research, then sit down with your florist. They'll be able to tell you what has and hasn't worked well in their experience, plus they will be able to give you an idea of the costs of the different flowers. Keep in mind that prices can vary greatly from florist to another. Make sure you find a florist with a good reputation, who you trust to match your vision for your wedding day, and to work with you to make that happen on your budget.

First Snowfall to the left is a great example of an elegant yet inexpensive centerpiece. A puff of frilly white alstroemeria - as pure as a first snowfall - is arranged atop pinecones, glossy red berries and a sprig of fresh cedar in this festive winter bouquet. All tied up with a red chiffon bow, it's the perfect holiday centerpiece - or a pretty floral gift for anyone on your list. White alstroemeria, flat cedar, pinecones and faux berries, accented with a red chiffon ribbon, arrive in a glass bubble bowl. Approximately 10" (W) x 9" (H)

And, as I said, if you want something different, try glitter trees, candles or Christmas Decorations that are different, such as the tree below:

Department 56 24" Gold Glittered TreeDepartment 56 24" Gold Glittered TreeYour real Christmas tree will be green with envy next to this golden 24" tree. Made of resin, this sparkly decorative tree makes a glittery centerpiece on a dining room table, or display it on a table in your front entranceway to welcome guests.

Gold Ornament TreeCreate a unique family heirloom centerpiece for your holiday table with our elegant Christmas Tree Ornament Stand. Beautifully crafted of gold finished wire the distinctive 24"H tree features scrolling branches a star on top and rotates in a circular motion using 2 "C" batteries (not included). Tree is not personalized. Perfect for showcasing favorite ornaments. (Ornaments sold separately.)

Saturday, November 22, 2008

What better gift for the couple having a Winter or Christmas themed Wedding than an ornament? Ditto for the guests. A cute wedding ornament with the couples name is an affordable and cheery favor for the tables such as the Handcrafted and Handpainted Wedding Cake Ornament below. As for a gift for the couple, the Lenox personalized ornament is a keepsake and also works well as a package topper.

These beautiful and unique wedding cake ornaments are original handmade art by Cynde Kerber. Each cake is sculpted out of polymer clay cold cast in resin hand painted and ersonalized with the bride and groom and date. This is a true keepsake that your guests will use year after year and always remember your special day. They are individually wrapped in cellophane for your guests and they come with a gold cord for hanging. Size is 3 1/4 tall by 3 1/2 wide and 3/4 thick. Please allow three weeks for personalization. Please enter names and date below.

Friday, November 14, 2008

I came across the hand made seashell bouquet, and went absolutely nuts. I have never seen anything like it before, and I absolutely love the uniqueness and simplicity of it. Therefore, it may be cold up here in the Northeast, but for those who want a beach wedding next summer, here are some great dresses, and items to help you pull it off.

Whether you all fly to a tropical destination, or simply hold a small service on a local beach, you can create a romantic and casually elegant wedding. For the most part, beach weddings are casual and carefree where you can attend your own wedding barefoot or in sandals. Some quick ideas are:

For small weddings you may pass out invitations rolled up in a small corked bottle which you can find at a craft store.

You and your partner may consider wearing simple, all-white attire while the wedding party (even just a party of two) chooses a theme color to compliment (or even) Hawaiian Shirts for the men and sundresses or sarongs for the bridesmaids.

A breezy summer dress, loose hair and a simple bouquet for the bride and a groom's outfit of a white cotton shirt and pants sets off the freshness of a beach wedding.

If the wedding or reception occurs near dusk, bring small glass tealight holders to place in the sand. Sprinkle the table with seashells or beach rocks to add romance to the occastion. White table cloths and white china with glass or crystal creates an elegant mood, while fiesta bright colors can set off a more playful decor.

For flowers, think of tropical arrangements or even all white lilies in unstructured bouquets. Adding tropical plants to an indoor reception along with bamboo or rattan seating will carry the theme throughout.

Marilyn Monroe Halter Beach Wedding DressThis backless halter dress is defiantly sexy! Of course, what else would you expect from starlet Marilyn Monroe? This decidedly untraditional beach wedding dress is a replica of that ever-so-famous white dress, complete with full skirt and criss-crossing belt. Falls from just below the knee to mid-calf length (depending on your body proportions) and made of beautifully draping crepe. A beautiful informal wedding gown. Made in Hawaii

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Whether you are planning a bridal tea or a simple tea to meet the new mother-in-law to be, you will want to have an outstanding selection of treats and perhaps favors. Tea is a luxury beveridge around the world, even though it is quite common, and you can dress your tea party or brunch up simply with the write favors and gourmet foods.

Serving tea with your scrumptious sweets just got easier! Each modern teacup with an ergonomic swirl handle has an extra long saucer that can accommodate your favorite tea and a little something extra. At a casual setting, guests can even walk around and mingle with others while still able to carry their cup of tea and what they're nibbling on. Try serving with homemade muffins or tea biscuits. Made of high quality white porcelain. Price is for cup and saucer set, other accessories not included.

Our personalized Wedding Biscotti favors offer a modern twist on a classic indulgence. Biscotti are traditional Italian cookies that are “twice baked” and have a distinctive crunch. Our hand-dipped wedding biscotti favors come in two flavors, traditional Almond and Dark Chocolate Almond. Each biscotti cookie is made to order using only the finest ingredients. Once cooled, each favor is hand dipped in Royal Icing and accented with colored sprinkles or shapes of your choice (up to two choices) for a custom decorated look. Your names and wedding date are imprinted on top of each biscotti in a lovely script font.

Each biscotti wedding favor is meticulously gift wrapped in a clear view box, nestled in coordinating tissue paper and tied with a matching satin ribbon. These personalized favors are perfect for bridal showers or the wedding reception.